Month: August 2017

Learning a new language is something I’ve always been on and off about. I want to do so, to help me communicate with others, especially when travelling. It’s helpful and respectful.

At school, I struggled with learning what they taught me in English. And that’s my first language. I’ve tried to learn Spanish a number of times. But like I’ve said in a previous post: I’m a quitter. But I don’t want to be.

I’ve said before I’ve wanted to learn sign language as well. Looked at classes once but never committed to anything. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve had the sign language alphabet on my wall. But never done much with it.

Tonight, I finished watching Switched at Birth. Which has sign language in. It’s interesting to see the different signs for words. I believe sign language is something I’d really like to do.

Not sure how I would keep it up without knowing anyone else who does sign.

I used the alphabet for the first time to sign out my first name.

Goal: Learn a new language. Learn sign language

You can now sign up to Molly Mahar new Council: The Courage Council. It’s starting on the 11th September for 21 days. There are two price ranges depending if you want extras or not. Like I said, it’s new this year so, only know whats gonna happen by the info Molly provides but if it’s anything like how her Holiday Council goes. I’m gonna love it.

Maybe you could too. Click the picture to access the web page. Have fun.

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I had more time on my hands than originally planned today. But I’m not getting into that as it made me swear at the time. I try not to swear on normal bases. I normally say something like bananas as a substitute.

My no telly day did not run onto today. I’m afraid, I’ve watched documentaries all afternoon/night. It’s funny how tastes change over the years. When I was younger, I wouldn’t even take a chance on a documentary. Now I love them.

Obviously not them all. There are some that don’t interest me. The ones today though have been emotional ones. I think I’m drawn to them.

I did start my research of helping others. I wrote some things down. But not ready to share. Not 100% on own feelings on the list really. But there’s no rush. Need to take my time before I commit myself to things.

I don’t want to mess anyone about or my mind. Something will inspire me, I’m sure.

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Life ain’t perfect. Life will never be perfect. Not everyone sees life this way. For some perfection is what they need to strive for.

I was one of those people. I had to be the best at everything I did. I had to say yes to everything. I had to please everyone. No matter what I felt.

Where did this lead me?

Clearly, not into any good places, at times. The reason I followed paths in my life where wrong. At the time I didn’t see this. I thought it was where I was supposed to be.

But just because you may think you’re supposed to be somewhere, mean that you actually should be?

There is more to life than being perfect. More to life than pleasing others. More to life than doing everything that crosses your path. What’s the reason you do something? Is it because you love it? Because it is going to help you

What’s the reason you do something?

Is it because you love it?

Because it is going to help you achieve your dream?

Because it’s going to make you the person you want to become?

There are still times I think this or that has to be perfect. But the word perfect doesn’t rule me anymore.

It shouldn’t you either!

Make sure you do the things in your life for you. Know the people who help you be the person you want to be.

I’ve still got a lot to achieve in my not-so-perfect life. But as my tattoo says: I Am Enough.

So are you!

The inspiration for this post. The book I got given for my birthday. My not so Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella. I really enjoyed it.

Today I had three sittings of reading it. As I had started reading it before today, I was on page 100 or thereabouts. To finish, the rest of the 431 paged book in a day felt great.

I worked on my goal of reducing telly. No telly days. Well, today was one of those days. I got to get into a pass time I have put to one side and enjoy immensely.

It has put me in a positive mind frame. I have helped a friend through a terrible day.

To top it off my auntie-in-law is off the breathing ventilator and has been reunited with her baby in the maternity ward. Hopefully, both will be out by the end of the week.

I don’t know what happened. I had written this post up and had scheduled it ready and then I couldn’t find it. It had disappeared into thin air. I was very happy with that post. Even the start, I felt was great. Now I can’t even remember what I had written.

Putting into practice what I have learnt. Breathing in and out. Through the situation and calming myself. Let’s try again.

It’s been a couple weeks since I last looked at my relaxation module set by my counsellor. Truth be told, it was the publishing of my first Relaxation Techniques post is what spurred me on to complete it. Thank you blog.

In the first half of my module, I had learnt two relaxation techniques. Now there is another to learn.

The Relaxation Response

This is a form of meditation. Helps to draw on your natural ability to restore balance. Focusing your attention on a particular word. Enabling detachment from daily life and quiets your mind.

When I first read that I had to focus on a word. My reaction was WTF! How can you relax when you have to focus on a word. But then I thought, surely it’s the same as visualising a place or thing. I won’t know until I try.

In the video, it says that if you witness any thoughts, let them pass. There is no need to act on these thoughts.

How to:

Sit down in a comfortable position. The video does say don’t lie down. So, don’t lie down. Close your eyes. Relax all your muscles; from your toes to your face. Breathe in and out. On the exhales repeat the word “one”.

Please note this is the word used in my module video. I’m sure any word would do. Try positive words, I’d say.

Don’t use an alarm. Try sensing when it’s time to stop. Ideally, complete this exercise for ten minutes. Once completed, open your eyes and take a couple minutes to sit a bit longer.

My thoughts:

I thought I was relaxed before trying this technique. But even with doing my yoga beforehand, I found my muscles were still tight and I was breathing fast. I was saying the word “one”, twice as much as the lady in the video. I think I need to try this one more to allow my breathing to slow.

Alternative Techniques:

There are also alternative techniques to aid in relaxation. If none of the ones shown work for me; I can try these:

Yoga > Hatha yoga is a slow paced yoga which promotes a relaxed state. I haven’t heard of this one. Think I may need to search for it.

Music

Meditation

Hot Baths > think I need to practice my goal of having baths.

Massage > hopefully my monthly one will help.

Steam rooms and Saunas > Never been to one myself. What do you think of them?

Make Relaxation Apart of Daily Life

All the techniques learnt. I now need to make time to practise the techniques daily and find the one that’s best for me. I want positive results after all. I need to come up with a goal plan.

To help with this I need to know what I want to achieve from the techniques. I was given the following questions to answer:

What would I most like to achieve by practising these relaxation techniques?
> Relaxed muscles
> Calm breathing
> To be able to use the techniques at times of stress and anxiety

What changes would I like to experience from using these relaxation techniques?
> I want to be able to control my stress and anxiety levels.
> Be able to relax within myself and be able to handle the situation I’m in

How would I like to feel after practising these relaxation techniques?
> Relaxed
> Be at ease with my mind and body
> Breathing Calmly.

To help ensure the daily practice of the relaxation techniques I was given three steps to follow:

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I would like to believe the world could have the good without the bad. Unfortunately, something as simple as turning on the news doesn’t fill me with confidence.

Charities. Something that we all trust to help others. Strive to make parts of the world and the people in it better. To hear one has been using the donations given by generous people, who may have their own financial difficulties, for personal and managerial gain. Not using putting it towards the people who they vowed to help.

This is one of the bad things I heard today. Something that doesn’t, maybe shouldn’t cause me to be saddened this way but does.

Volunteering is something I do. Seeing inside a charity. How it struggles. How it helps. How it gets through all based solely on volunteers and donations. It’s an amazing feeling to help.

That there are people out there who are untrustworthy, thieves and failed to potentially save many peoples lives. Saddens me.

My second bad news I heard was about family. My cousin, my uncle’s daughter who was born last Thursday. Was placed on a breathing ventilator and put on antibiotics. The good news is she’s able to breathe for herself now.

The bad news is that my auntie-in-law, the baby’s mother, is now on a breathing ventilator. Having a new born is supposed to be the happiest time, bringing her home, introducing to the family. But life is already hard and scary for an innocent child.

Little child. I pray for you and your mother. Get better quickly, to be able to be united with you dad and meet your older sisters.

Seeing as my two out of three is bad. Heres some good news.

My step dad is well. Snoring as he should be. After five hours in the hospital this morning and three doctors umming and arring whether to put stitches on his toes. He’s hobbling well with sterristraps and bandages on. Seeing how it heals until his next appointment.

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I’ve been there when a customer has needed an ambulance. It’s not nice but I was calm and collected. Not the same for when it’s your relative.

This evening I had to call one for my step dad. My mum shouted me. I found her with my step dad in her arms on the back door step, foot bleeding. My step dad doesn’t do blood. So, after dropping a kitchen cabinet on his toe, he collapsed.

I first saw him, he was unconscious, white and had blue lips. I was very shaky when on the phone. Not as calm and collected this time.

After three hours in A&E, an x-ray later. My step dad had a bandage placed on and told not to eat anything after midnight. To be at the main hospital at 7 am for a clinical assessment. Apparently, he has a possible broken toe nail and has a laceration to the toe that’ll require stitches.

Thankfully, we are lucky enough to be able to laugh at the situation afterwards. That’s just how my step dad is. Asking the paramedics if they have cider. But I know not everyone is able to.

For anyone who has rung an ambulance and/or has a family member with health needs. My heart goes out to you. It ain’t always easy.

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Had a good day today. Decided to take a trip to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Packed a picnic, which was nice. Helped save us a little money. Most importantly, I began to enjoy myself in the day.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park is an animal park that I’m happy to go to. I use to work there some years ago one summer. After this time, it has changed very much. To the better. It gives space the animals needs to live their lives in captivity.

Having animals in captivity is another topic for me altogether. But I won’t go into that. Maybe another day.

If you live near the Yorkshire Wildlife Park then I would recommend going for the day. I took photos of the animals. Which you can see below. This one is my favourite:

The Wallaby having its lunch. Enjoy the rest of the photos. Spot the polar bears.